Seam ripper



Jan. 5, 1937'. P. BROWNING 2,066,556

SEAM RIPPER Filed March 30, 1936 Inventor Paul .Brownzny Patented Jan. 5, 1937 PATENT OFFICE SEAM RIPPER Paul Browning, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application March 30,

5 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in seam rippers for use particularly by tailors, suit and cloak makers, etc.,- and has for one of its important objects to provide, 5 in a manner hereinafter set forth, a device of the character embodying a novel construction and arrangement through the medium of which a conventional safety razor blade may be used for cutting the thread.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a seam ripper of the aforementioned character embodying a novel construction and arrangement of guards for automatically shielding the blade when the device is not in use.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a seam ripper of the character described which will be simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, portable, compact and which may be manufactured at low 20 cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a seam ripper constructed in accordance with the pres- 30 ent invention, a portion of the pivoted arm being broken away in section.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the invention.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4--4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in vertical section, taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawing in detail it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a substantially channel or U-shaped arm which is formed from a single sheet of suitable metal and which 45 is designated generally by the reference numeral I. The arm I is pivotally connected at one end, as at 2, to a lug 3 which is integral with a base 4 of suitable heavy material. At a point remote from the lug 3, the base 4 has formed therein a pocket 5 the purpose of which will be presently set forth.

On the free end portion of the arm I opposed flanges 8 depend from the sides I of said arm. Removably mounted in the free end portion of the 55 arm I is a conventional safety razor blade 8, one

1936, Serial No. 71,731

edge of which projects'below the flanges 6 as illustrated to advantage in Figure 3 of the drawing. The blade 8 is secured in position through the medium of a bolt 9 having threaded thereon a wing nut I0. Of course, the sides 1 of the arm I are drawn together through the medium of the elements 9 and I in a manner to clamp the blade 8 in position therebetween.

Formed integrally with the ends of the depending flanges 6 are opposed guides H in which guards I2 for the blade 8 are slidably mounted. Projecting from the sides of the arm I are suitable brackets I 3 on which bowed springs I4 are mounted. The end portions of the springs I4 are engaged with the upper edges of the guards I2 for yieldingly urging said guards downwardly in the guides II toward operative position for shielding the exposed cutting edge of the blade 8. Stops I (see Figure 5) are provided on the lower ends of the guides II for engagement beneath shoulders I6 on the ends of the guards I2 for supporting said guards against the action of the springs I4.

The pivot bolt 2 of the arm I is provided with a nut I! through the medium of which said arm I may be releasably secured in any desired position, such as that shown in Figure 1 of the draw- In use, the material to be ripped is grasped on opposite sides of the seam and the stitches are pressed upwardly against the exposed cutting edge of the blade 8, the guards I2 being forced upwardly against the tension of the springs I4 when this is done. Should the operator inadvertently move his hands so that there would be danger of harming the goods, the unequal pressure produced would permit one of the guards I2 to close and in this manner protect said goods against being damaged. Of course, after the ripping operation has been completed the springs l4 automatically return the guards I2 to operative position. When not in use the arm I may be swung downwardly on the base 4 for engaging the blade 8, the guards I2, etc., in the pocket or well 5. The blade 8 may be conveniently removed for replacement by simply removing the bolt 9.

It is believed that the many advantages of a seam ripper constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:* V

1. A seam ripper comprising an arm including opposed sides, a blade mounted between said opposed sides, guards for the blade slidably mounted on the arm, and springs engaged with said guards for yieldingly urging same toward operative position and stop means on said guards for limiting the travel of said blade with respect to said guards.

2. A seam ripper comprising a substantially channel-shaped arm, a blade mounted in said arm and projecting therefrom, pairs of opposed guides on the arm on opposite sides of the blade, retractible guards slidably mounted in the guides for shielding the blade, and bowed springs secured, at intermediate points, to the arm and having their end portions engaged with the guards for yieldingly urging said guards toward operative position.

3. A seam ripper comprising a substantially channel-shaped arm, opposed flanges projecting from the sides of said arm on one end portion thereof, a blade removably mounted in said one end portion of the arm and including a cutting edge projecting beyond the opposed flanges, means for removably securing the blade in the arm, opposed guides on the ends of the flanges, retractible guards, for the exposed cutting edge of the blade, slidably mounted in the guides, and bowed springs secured, at intermediate points, to the arm and having their end portions engaged with the guards for yieldingly urging said guards toward operative position, said end portions of the springs being engaged in the guides.

4. A seam ripper of the class described comprising a base having a pocket formed therein at a predetermined point, an arm pivotally mounted on said base and provided with a blade holder arranged to swing toward and from said pocket, said blade holder including a plurality of guides, a blade mounted in said holder and having its cutting edge projecting between said guides, a pair of spaced parallel guards slidably mounted in said guides, and spring means for normally projecting the guards beyond the cutting edge of the blade in the manner and for the purposes described.

5. A seam ripper comprising a base having a pocket therein, a substantially channel-shaped arm pivotally connected, at one end, to said base, a blade mounted in the free end portion of the arm and projecting therefrom, pairs of opposed guides on said free end portion of the arm, a retractible guard for the exposed portion of the blade slidably mounted in each pair of guides, and springs mounted on the arm and engaged with the guards for yieldingly urging said guards toward operative position, the blade and the guards being engageable in said pocket of the base.

PAUL BROWNING. 

